To help celebrate the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) Physics World, the magazine of the Institute of Physics, has compiled a collection of quantum-themed articles. Quantum Briefing 2025 covers “the history, mystery and industry of quantum mechanics” and marks 100 years since Werner Heisenberg formulated the mathematical basis for quantum mechanics while he spent time on the island of Helgoland, north-west of Hamburg.
As well as explaining some of the theories and applications of quantum science and technologies (including a new look at the infamous double-slit experiment) Physics World‘s compilation also includes extracts from two fictional diaries that Heisenberg might have penned; one if he had remained at the University of Gottingen and the other imagined on Helgoland.
The complete ebook is available under open access at https://physicsworld.com/p/magazine/archive/physics-world-quantum-briefing-2025/, where it can can be read online or downloaded as a PDF for offline enjoyment. It concludes with a short quantum trivia quiz, the answers to which can be found on the Physics World website at https://physicsworld.com/a/test-your-quantum-knowledge-in-this-fun-quiz/.
Further Reading: Nature magazine has published an open-access article in which Sean Carroll considers what really happens in quantum realm and CERN has released a series of 16 videos tackling a range of different topics at an accessible level. There are more details about these resources at https://physbang.com/2025/02/13/particle-physics-iyq-2025/.
Mr Tarrant's physbang 'blog 